STALEMATE BETWEEN SALGAOCAR AND MOHUN BAGAN

I-LEAGUE Media Team

GOA: McDowell Mohun Bagan missed a plethora of chances as they settled for a goalless draw against Salgaocar Football Club in an away Hero I-League clash at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Wednesday.

Mohun Bagan started the match as favourites and had plenty of chances to stake claim for full points but their finishing was not up to the mark. Salgaocar, on the other hand, will be happy to walk away with a point given the fact that they missed several of their players.

Mohun Bagan and Salgaocar FC took the field without any of their frontline strikers and it showed in the manner in which the opening 45 minute shaped up.

Mohun Bagan did not have Cameroonian striker Pierre Boya and Bagan missed him terribly. Sony Norde was entrusted with the responsibility of getting the goals and although he did have some chances, the final touch was missing. Sony’s first chance came early in the game when Manish Bhargav sent a through ball which Sony did well to trap and control but his finish was awful: wide of goalkeeper Subrata Paul.

Another chance to Sony went abegging as Augustin Fernandes thwarted his opponent just in time. There was time for yet another chance, this time Sony sent the ball wide of the target.

Salgaocar FC restricted themselves mostly to the midfield and chances were few and far between. The only time they looked like surging ahead when a cross from Rosario Mendes evaded the Bagan defence and fell nicely for Aslon Oliveira. The youngster, however, made a mess of the opportunity.

For the rest of the game, Douhou Pierre tried to lift his teammates and create something out of nothing but the hosts did not seem up to the task.

In the second session, Mohun Bagan continued with their dominating performance and Katsumi Yusa and Sony tried to work their way past a cluttered Salgaocar defence, without much success. In the 54th minute, Bagan’s Pritam Kotal unleashed a powerful shot which goalkeeper Subrata Paul parried away with great difficulty.

Salgaocar had a lucky escape in the 65th minute when a hasty clearance from Gurjinder Kumar saw the ball turn into Salgaoar’s own goal but referee Santosh Kumar spotted an infringement on Balwant Singh and disallowed the goal.

Hero of the Match – Subrata Paul (SFC)

ROYAL WAHINGDOH MAKE IT THREE WINS IN A ROW

I-LEAGUE Media Team

PUNE: Fleet-footed Royal Wahingdoh FC coached by maverick Santosh Kashyap upset home side Bharat FC 2-1 to further justify their early leadership in the Hero I-League, at the Balewadi Sports Complex Stadium on Tuesday.

Royal Wahingdoh weren’t unnerved after going down early on and were a changed side on resumption after halftime. Substitute Kim Yeong-Song, Seityasen Singh and especially Lalmangaih Sanga carried raids unabated before they found the equalizer through Kim in the 59th minute. Seityasen scored eight minutes later to give clear edge to the visitors and they could have scored at least two more goals, but for some good saves by Arindam Bhattacharja.

The win cemented Royal Wahingdoh’s place at the top with 9 points from three matches, while Bharat FC just has one point from the draw against Dempo SC.

Down by Kris Bright’s 14th minute goal, Royal Wahingdoh worked continuously for finding the one breakthrough. In the 58th minute, Lallawnzuala received a through ball on the right but the diminutive defender was called offside.

A minute later, Kim, who came in for Jackichand Singh, got his chance when his skipper Densill Theobald sent a defence-splitting pass through the legs of two Bharat FC defenders.

Kim made no mistakes when he had just Arindam to beat as Royal Wahingdoh found the equalizer they were looking for.

Soon after Theobald was yet again at it. He picked out Kim in the box, but this time Arindam was alert.

The winning goal came eight minutes later when the visiting skipper set up Lallawnzuala on the right where he had good space to work his strategy. Lallawnzuala sent a low cross for Kim, but the ball raced past the South Korean only to find striker Seityasen Singh, who was lurking at the back-post. An unmarked Seityasen fired down the ball into the back of the net for 2-1 winning lead.

The two halves were diametrically opposite with Bharat FC dominating the first, while Royal Wahingdoh controlling the second half. The home team will rue the missed chances, rather some casual approach after having taken the lead in the 14th minute.

Playing in front of a motley crowd of 500-odd football enthusiasts mainly comprising the players of Pune FC and Shillong Lajong FC, who play here on Thursday, Bharat FC took the lead when Subhash Singh created a move for the midfielder from Benin, Romuald Boco, but his header was stopped by Royal Wahingdoh goalkeeper Nikhil Bernard.

However, the ball remained in play and New Zealand striker Kris Bright fired low into the nettings for Bharat FC’s first ever goal.

Just before the goal came, Bharat FC goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja made a superb save on Lallawmazula’s stinging shot. The Shillong player was sent clear on the right side within the box as Royal Wahingoh forwards worked nicely on the edge of the box.

Lallawmazuala’s shot was too powerful, but Arindam dived correctly to make the save. A minute before Mehrajuddin Wadoo had set up Boco, but Bernard was well placed to catch the ball.